My entries for the Vermont State Fair are…

It’s a road trip to Rutland today for me and for my six photographs. The Vermont State Fair does not accept mailed-in entries; so instead of shipping these prints via UPS, I have to ship them UBS – United Blackbird Shipping. That’s right. Six foam-boarded and matted entries in my 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS (also known as the “Blackbird”), ready to travel.

Actually, this year I’m bringing a few extra pictures – I worked out a reciprocal agreement with my blog reader Robert Burger, who offered to take some of my pictures to the Durham (Conn.) Fair if I did the same for him at Vermont. No probs.

The Vermont State Fair has several categories and divisions for photographic entries, and although you can submit a maximum of six entries, you can’t submit more than two items (one color, one B&W) in any category.

I picked and selected and fussed and mussed over each image. I wanted this one. I wanted that one. I wanted both of them to be entered. But, in the end, one had to sit down so that another could stand tall.

I used my two printers/framers of choice, McGreevy Pro Lab to print the pictures, and Hobby Lobby to matte and mount them. Both companies give me the best service. So what you see here are the original entries, complete with their matting and mounting, as displayed here on the lucky DeWolfe Afghan background. They include:

THE THREE-TWO PITCH

Entered in the People: Color category.

I matted “The Three-Two Pitch” right to the film frame, complete with sprocket holes and branding. Okay, Miles Kelly, fastball down the middle. Let’s get a ribbon here.

BARN VERSUS WEEDS

Barn: Color category

I know that this picture is a couple of years old, but there’s not a “best used if by” date for this competition. Plus, if I have a chance to get something out of this image, I will.

LOW TIDE AT SUNRISE

In Landscapes: Color category

I so want this picture to pick up a win. It already received some love from the New York State Fair; so let’s see if I can get some success out of it at Vermont. When I think about what it took to get this picture – early morning, chilly weather, sand in my sneakers – and this came out? Awesomesauce.

ROUTE 9W DAIRY BARN

In Barns: B&W category

This would probably be the only competition in which I would enter this picture. It was taken earlier this year with my wonky Svema film. Svema hasn’t won me a ribbon yet. Operative word: yet.

THE REFLECTION

In Vermont State Fair: Color photo category

There is a category for pictures that were taken at the Vermont State Fair itself. So essentially, I have one day to get a picture that I plan on entering in next year’s competition.

HELLO!

Animals: Color category

Yep, Mr. Tumnus is going to the Vermont State Fair, and I don’t need to invest in hay or a trailer.

So I’m dropping these six entries off today. And then, a few days later, when I go to pick up the artworks (most likely on Sunday, the last day of the Fair), I’ll know how things turned out.

Chuck Miller

5 Responses

I found out yesterday that I may not be attending the VT State Fair as I had thought this Sunday. Plans change. So if I don’t see for myself, I await your blog post re: ribbon winnery. I wish you the best once again Chuck. Safe travels.